By Katherine Abayomi
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and recovered a large sum of money believed to be part of ransom paid by victims’ families, following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex.
The arrest followed the abduction of a female victim and three others on January 19, 2026, at Elele Waterside in Etche Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Abdullah Ibrahim, 23, from Avara Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, and Mohammed Hashim, 27, from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, were apprehended on January 22, 2026, at about 8:49 p.m.
Police operatives, upon searching the suspects, recovered the sum of two million, three hundred and eighty-three thousand naira, believed to be part of the ransom paid by families of kidnapped victims.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to their involvement in several kidnapping incidents across the area.
According to her, the suspects also admitted to the abduction of two female victims from Akpoku Community in Etche Local Government Area on January 8, 2026. She added that the gang’s activities led to the killing of a youth who was reportedly conveying a ransom of three million, eight hundred thousand naira on January 13, 2026.
CSP Iringe-Koko further disclosed that operatives encountered stiff resistance from other members of the kidnapping syndicate during the operation, resulting in a gun battle between the police and the suspects.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included one pump-action gun and the recovered cash sum of ₦2.38 million.The Command assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang who are currently at large with operational weapons.
Commending the operatives for their bravery and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, urged members of the public to continue to support the police with credible information in the collective fight against crime in the state.
